Todays run in with Rozzers ...

[Bellow]

What surprised me was the complete lack of awareness the cyclist had for his own safety. I was on bicycle that day. On another day, in a car. In a rural setting it could just as easily have been a 2 tonne FWD or a tractor. Downhill into a junction, off throttle, I'm not convinced he would have heard anything motorised and he certainly didn't look for it. Then, to cap it all, he has the nerve to holler safety advice at me! Why he even bothers to encase such a feeble brain in a protective helmet escapes me.

 

[jonnyboy]

Don't get me wrong, cyclists are in constant danger from motorised vehicle users, that is 100% confirmed, especially in London and other big cities, but I was appalled at what I saw from them.
Don't even get me started on them wearing headphones....

 

[poormansporsche]

Just to even things up

My other 2 positive police experiences in the last couple of months.

Few weeks ago had a knock at the door at 9.00 pm - its 2 coppers." Scuse me sir mind if we have a look in your garden we have a missing elderly person. " me "no probs, give me a minute to pick up the dog poop" copper "don't worry sir this is more important than a bit of £hite on my boots "


And secondly,

Time before last when I was pulled in a random tax check etc the coppers were very polite even when they saw the large claw hammer and Stanley knife sitting on the passenger seat. Just informed me they should be kept in the back of the van in a locked tool box. They could have made a real issue so mustn't grumble !

 

[flango]

I'm willing to have my opinion changed Flango, so would you explain your version of the difference between a lane change and a merge? That's surely just a play on words. By what 'authority' did the van have right of way? Either way the van is moving into the lane already occupied by the police car and so in my view (a retired traffic cop, just to put me on a par with your traffic pal) needs to comply with the Highway Code lane changing guidelines. As stated in my previous post, I don't dispute that the police car was not being driven very well, but as I also stated previously, I suspect there's more to this stop than we know. There's little difference in principle between the manoeuvre of the van in the clip and what it would need to do if there was a lane closure due for example to road works, à la motorway. Would you argue that he had right of way in those circumstances?

Well you are correct if we go back to the base rule of driving in The UK which is give way to vehicles from the right but the point is the focus was not on the vans right it was behind him all of the Clip

Now take your scenario of a left lane closure and put the two vehicles in the same position the focus was originally far enough behind the van for the van to pull safely in front of him ( before the focus pulled the stupid manoeuvre) in this situation i would have expected the van to indicate though. Both drivers in this situation have a duty of care to other road users the merging vehicle to ensure the lane he is moving into is clear ( give way to the right) and the car in that lane should allow safe progress of the other car into that lane usually by using acceleration sense and backing off or changing lane if a third lane is available and clear

Now take the original clip as a ex traffic officer if you had come up behind the van at that junction then stopped. The van was not indicating so obviously going straight on and going to merge what would you have done? I see two options out accelerate the van from the lights or back off and let him merge safely never in a million years would you try to close the gap at the point in time that the focus driver did

A Lange change involves two manoeuvres move into a lane to your right and then move back to the left lane when clear (unless approaching a RB or making a right turn)

A merge involves a move from one lane to another and then making progress in that lane with in this case no other lane available

As in my earlier post they don't merge that way around here for the exact reason shown in the clip around here they always merge from the right. This then leaves no doubt as it puts you back to the basic rule of the road give way to vehicles from the right, that said both drivers still have a duty of care to other road users